By Nathan Barton

Looking back from 2020, what mistakes did the US make in 2000-2015? Could we have done something to avoid the catastrophic collapse of the last five years?  Thirteen items come to mind.

1.  We waited too long before we shot or hung all the lawyers:  starting with the government ones, and then the private ones who were too stupid to read the writing on the wall and find a new occupation.

2.  We didn’t outlaw governments borrowing money soon enough, much less letting them make anything but silver or gold “legal tender.”

3.  We confused investing in the stock market and buying a home with true investment.  And we forgot that supposedly having “ownership” in a company doesn’t really mean we own it because it doesn’t necessarily equal “control” – whether we are talking government, public lands, or corporations.

4.  We allowed government to spend too much stolen, printed, and borrowed “currency” and accepted it instead of money.

5.   We thought politicians really believed in something other than their own power and wealth.

6.  We forgot that only individuals (not groups or animals or “Mother Earth”) have rights.

7.  We forgot God, and that all we value in our lives comes from Him either directly or indirectly.  That human love, inventiveness, happiness, and liberty are all His gifts.

8.  We forgot that many or most people go into government service because they are so desperate for security, above all else, that they are unable to understand freedom.  And others go because they want control over others.

9.  We forgot that many or most people go into politics for the sake of power and control over others – and secondarily for security just like the civil service types.  And we made the mistake of giving them power and control AND security through pensions, lobbying, and the opportunity to gain wealth while in office.

10. We forgot that the rest of the world – at least the politicians and elite – have NEVER liked the United States, and for the most part, have hated us especially when we intervened and ended up saving their bacon.  Even when the fact that they were in the frying pan was not our fault.  And even when they begged for our help.

11. We forgot that Americans are the descendants of the troublemakers of the world, and that we needed to stop the idea of making us all “civilized.”

12.  We forgot that both civil service and career politicians are just like children – as soon as we set limits on them, they try to figure out a work-around and run to the other parent; they can’t stay out of the mud and can’t make it to the bathroom on time, so they have to be cleaned out frequently.  And we HAVE to keep a very close eye on them.

13.  We forgot that our first priority was to our families, our friends and church, our other communities, then our state, and maybe our nation; and that we ARE NOT the nanny or the policeman or the parents or the children of the world.